TIFF Review: Jennifer’s Body
By Peter Sciretta/Sept. 10, 2009 7:05 pm EST
For me, Jennifer’s Body was a lot of fun. The movie feels more like the teen horror films that I grew up with in the 1980’s than the contemporary slashers produced by Platinum Dunes or Dimension Films. Actually, it plays more like a teen comedy than a horror film, and that’s not a bad thing. The laugh to jump ratio is probably 50:1.
Reitman regular JK Simmons has a supporting role as a teacher with one hand. And if you look quick, you might even see a cameo from screenwriter/producer Diablo Cody. And Adam Brody headlines an indie band who is trying to capitalize on a small town tragedy, which ends up being one of the best running jokes of the film.
Aside from black projectile vomit, most of the gore-infused action is kept off screen, side from a post-kill shot or two, and sometimes cleverly visualized (ie silhouette). It definitely feels light in this respect, especially compared to most R-rated horror films these days. Even the script is decidedly more graphic, describing a victim as looking like “lasagna with teeth,” an image that never visually comes across on screen.
But again, this film feels more like a comedy than it does a contemporary horror movie, and I’m sure those who might end up liking Jennifer’s Body, will appreciate the humor over the scares/gore.
/Film Rating: 7.5 out of 10
